Helen Mirren has voiced a role in Monsters University, a new trailer has revealed.

The latest trailer for the sequel, which takes place several years prior to Monsters, Inc (2001), includes footage of Mirren's character Dean Hardscrabble.

"As a great fan of all things Pixar, I was honoured and exhilarated to be asked to appear in Monsters University," Mirren said in a statement. "What a liberation! As an actor, you have two important tools to your trade: your voice and your body.

"It has been easy over the years to find good roles for my voice, but it has not been so easy to squash my many legs and my wings into the various costumes I have been forced to uncomfortably wear, disguising my true form.

"Finally I can make good use of both voice and body in a role that seems tailor-made for meâ€”one could say monster-made. At last, the audience can experience the real Helen Mirren. Thank you Disneyâ€¢Pixar and [director] Dan Scanlon."

Monsters University sees Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sulley (John Goodman) meet as college roommates and take an initial dislike to each other, before eventually overcoming their differences and forming the friendship seen in Monsters, Inc.